Here's the latest update about City Realty's plans for a key piece of land on Route 9 in Chestnut Hill. Plus, a key town staffer will depart, and learn about a new Brookline Interactive Group initiative. brookline.news/news-in-brie...

Public school enrollment in Brookline dropped during the pandemic, and it hasn't bounced back even as COVID waned. Why are families still choosing private school? Brookline.News reporter Celeste Alcalay talked to parents, students and school leaders about the trend. brookline.news/brooklines-p...

School Committee updates: The state is auditing Brookline's use of the IDEA special education grant, and the committee plans for upcoming budget and policy discussions. brookline.news/school-commi...

A new book by humor columnist Scott Kerman chronicles hundreds of hours of conversations with Brookline's most prominent politician, Michael Dukakis. brookline.news/new-book-doc...

The latest brief updates: The town is now offering free drug disposal kits, Brookline police launch a "micromobility enforcement initiative," there's a free immigration law clinic this month, and BHS football is set to play at Fenway for its big Thanksgiving game. brookline.news/news-in-brie...

A new Yemeni coffee shop is in the works for Coolidge Corner, offering spiced coffee and tea. Arwa Yemeni Coffee will also be open until 1 a.m. on weekends, aiming to offer an alternative late night spot for those who don't drink alcohol or want to meet in bars. brookline.news/restaurant-u...

What would the Centre Street parking lots look like with the parking moved to a garage structure or underground? How about new housing/retail development, a public plaza, or many more trees? Consultants Jeff Speck and Chris Dempsey have a plan (or four) for that. brookline.news/consultants-...

The MBTA is planning to remove nine trees from Beacon Street near the Englewood Ave and Tappan Street stations, including the pictured large pin oak, during the first phase of its work on Green Line accessibility improvements. brookline.news/mbta-town-of...

One for the municipal policy wonks (and hopefully maybe a few other people): Brookline's annual audit is delayed by six months, part of a newly-emerging statewide problem caused by rapid consolidation in the accounting industry and unresponsive big firms. brookline.news/delay-in-bro...

Democracy talks, a puppet cabaret, a 5k race, and the Brookline poetry series feature in this week's edition of 10 things to do in Brookline. brookline.news/10-things-to...

In-depth report: Farmers all over the country are facing uncertainty as federal policies change rapidly. That strain impacts Brookline, as it affects many of the vendors who count on the town's weekly farmer's market to support their business. brookline.news/in-the-field...

Check out the latest episode of the Brookline.News podcast to hear what's behind the headlines on Brookline's cannabis industry, toxic chemicals at the Pierce School, and a new restaurant which calls itself a love letter to the empanada. brookline.news/brookline-ne...

Warnings of burglaries by "needy addicts" and imagined scenarios of victimized elderly people. On the other side: "individuals should not have the privilege of vetting their neighbors." Read the heated Town Meeting member debate over a transitional housing facility brookline.news/town-meeting...

Two men who were involved in a violent 2023 Brookline home invasion, in which they entered a Warren Street home with guns, assaulted a resident and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, have been sentenced to three years in prison. brookline.news/two-men-get-...

Story that I wrote today that I found interesting but may only be joined in that by a handful of municipal policy wonks: Brookline's FY24 audit is six months late and counting, mirroring widespread issue across MA munis caused by rapid accounting firm consolidation brookline.news/delay-in-bro...

Read about the BHS class of 1965, which got together for a 60th reunion over the weekend brookline.news/60-years-lat...

The Calculus Project, a highly-regarded educational equity program which began at Brookline High School, is no longer being offered at the school after a disagreement boiled over between BHS leaders and the nonprofit's CEO, himself a former BHS administrator. brookline.news/calculus-pro...

Town Administrator Chas Carey last night proposed creating a new community and recreation center at the site of the old Newbury College campus on Fisher Hill, with space for fitness classes, after school enrichment, senior programming and more. brookline.news/town-propose...

Two New York men are facing charges after they allegedly stole $45,000 from a 71-year-old Brookline woman in a scam that involved fake messages and calls purporting to be from the tech company Apple as well as the Federal Trade Commission. brookline.news/two-new-york...

Trying to find a freelancer with strong court and crime reporting experience who can help cover a criminal trial in Dedham for @brooklinenews.bsky.social for around two weeks in late Sept/early Oct. Some scheduling flexibility required, we'll pay competitively. DM or email [email protected]

Library night, a ukelele jam, Brookline Day and more feature on our list of events to check out this week. brookline.news/10-things-to...

Select Board member Paul Warren will not run for reelection next year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Warren, who was elected in 2023, will finish his three-year term which ends in May. The five-member Select Board is the town's executive body. brookline.news/select-board...

A new children's bookstore is coming to Brookline Village. Turtle Books, created by Bruce and Cathy Jacobs, is planning a soft opening in October at 44 Washington Street. brookline.news/retired-loca...

brookline.news/bocadillos-a... The empanada restaurant Bocadillos opened this summer on Cypress Street, serving up Latin American and Caribbean hand pies. Read about how owner Keneddy Lavour went from a pop-up to the new brick-and-mortar restaurant.

The town of Brookline and its school district have joined more than 100 other municipalities and districts in a lawsuit against several social media companies which alleges that the platforms are addictive and harmful to young users.

Just six years after Brookline first welcomed cannabis dispensaries, one of its four stores has closed and another recently changed ownership. Local tax revenue from cannabis sales is down nearly 80% since 2020 and dropping. Can Brookline’s weed industry avoid a bust? brookline.news/in-brookline...

"Being a journalist in my hometown meant that the people I bumped into on the street were the same people who read my stories, were featured in them and sometimes inspired them," writes Celeste Alcalay, who just wrapped up a summer internship with Brookline.News. Read more of her reflections:

10 things to do in Brookline this week, featuring including pop-ups, cookbooks, cheese and jazz. brookline.news/10-things-to...

A New York man who allegedly called in a bomb threat to a Brookline hotel after it flew a Palestinian flag has been sentenced to a year of probation in exchange for a reduced charge. brookline.news/new-york-man...

Low levels of toxic chemicals known as PCBs were found in soil near the Pierce School during the rebuilding project, in an area between the historic school building and Town Hall. brookline.news/low-levels-o...

Last week, staff at the Baker School dedicated a new teachers' lounge to Matt Goldstein, a beloved 8th-grade math teacher who died in December. brookline.news/baker-school...

The town's Recreation Department is preparing to start offering adult and community education classes this fall, after taking over some of the programming from a popular nonprofit that shut down when it lost funding from the Public Schools of Brookline. brookline.news/adult-educat...

Two 18-year-olds who were present during a Jan. shooting in Brookline are no longer facing charges, after prosecutors dropped a case against one of them and a judge dismissed the charge against the other. Separate charges against two juveniles are pending in court. brookline.news/two-men-clea...

17 outdoor sculptures by 21 artists are on display through Sept. 1 in Riverway Park, as Studios Without Walls celebrates its 26th year displaying public art, and its sixth summer in Brookline. brookline.news/six-summers-...

School Committee members Valerie Frias and Andy Liu were recently married, a relationship they have not publicly disclosed. brookline.news/school-commi...

Restaurant update: A new Chinese restaurant is opening near St. Mary's, a Popeyes is coming to Comm Ave, Esmai's in Coolidge Corner is adding a first-of-its kind roof deck, and Sorriso Market will close both of its Brookline locations. brookline.news/restaurant-u...

The Select Board last night signed off on a Williams Street property being sold to a nonprofit that is planning a transitional housing program for parents recovering from substance use disorders and their children. brookline.news/select-board...

One family sent their child to Pine Village, a Spanish immersion school in Brookline, to maintain a Spanish-speaking "bubble." Another did so to prepare their child for the multicultural experiences they will have at the Lawrence School. brookline.news/spanish-imme...

The town's new sustainability division, funded to start by an anonymous donor, has been working for a year. Here's what its staff have been up to: brookline.news/a-year-in-to...

By far the question we've received most at @brooklinenews.bsky.social the last few weeks: Where did the painted turkeys go? So here's the answer: they're getting a new coat of sealant and some touch-ups from the artists. brookline.news/explained-wh...

One man was arrested and another has a warrant out for his arrest after they allegedly rode through a red light while on bicycles near the Pierce School, and then fled when Brookline police tried to stop them. brookline.news/bicyclist-ar...

For 13 years, Rifrullo Café has been cooking up creative food and building community at its restaurant tucked on a Cypress Street corner. Read about how owner Colleen Suhanosky and chef Bobby Mendoza have been able to keep the independent business going. brookline.news/rifrullo-caf...

Over two trips this summer, leaders of the nonprofit Brookline for Racial Justice & Equity have visited all of the town's Little Free Libraries to drop off books aimed at diversifying the authors represented.

Paul Vincent Davis’ hands were always dancing, whether he had a puppet in them or he was just planning his next show. The renowned puppeteer, who for decades helped run and grow Brookline's Puppet Showplace Theater, died earlier this month the age of 90. brookline.news/paul-vincent...

The Brookline Village cheese shop curds&co is closing next month after eight years in business. brookline.news/curdsco-to-c...

Meet Gail Flackett, a Brookline senior. Video by the Boston University Audio Visual Storytelling summer class. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcPI...

As pressure continues to grow on the town and school budgets, Brookline leaders are beginning to put together the outline of a proposal for a potential tax override which would go on the ballot in May 2026. brookline.news/town-officia...

For a story, we’re interested in hearing from Brookline families who have faced difficult decisions about whether to send your children to public or private school. To share your experience, email reporter Celeste Alcalay at [email protected].

Of the $491 million worth of property that Boston University owns in Brookline, $350 million is tax exempt. Despite facing layoffs and budget cuts, BU recently agreed to 5 more years of voluntarily paying more than $1m each year to the town. brookline.news/boston-unive...